Supermoto 101

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Quite fancy one for the road but have next to no idea as to the pros and cons of various models or makes.

What would be the ideal cc for road use and the short A road commute? Tank range was always a consideration before but as it's 20miles a day a small tank is less of a hindrance to my choices.

Are they all electric start or a mix of kick and button options?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

Clutchy · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Karma :

Was going to start my own thread eventually but was hoping someone else would first Wink

I wish someone could make a sticky thread with loads of popular SM's with pics and engine size underneath Wink

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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

If I was commuting, a DRZ400 would be top of my list, pretty tough apparently.

No doubt G will be along shortly about how they aren't super Wink

but its that style in a reliable road going form.

Getting up to the CRF450s and WR450s is talking more looking after but with the more "super" aspect built in.

Could always go down the total boss route of a 300 EXC with SM wheels, 2 stroke power with a road going set of boots Mr. Green

If keeping in the 4 stroke business and money not really that big of an issue, KTM 690 SMC Thumbs Up

rhys1005 · Crazy Courier Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Karma :

I was told drz400 for exactly the kind of riding your going to do however going off-road, If you go for the drz might as well look into taking it off road.. Looks heaps of fun Thumbs Up

After getting a KTM 300 and riding it for a short while I'm not sure I would want it for road use only purely down to the fact some mornings I feel like utter shit (hangover etc) and the KTM vibrates like crazy and it's loud as fuck. Also because.. not sure if it's because it's set to be 'aggressive' (only second ktm I've rode and both been set up this way Rolling Eyes

) but keeping the front down and not sliding the f*cker on corners in the wet once the bike reaches it's peak is a mare.

Saying all this I suspect setting up the suspensions, changing the spring for the power band thingy to something more tame and adding Supermoto wheels (if not already installed) would help heaps.

Soo IMO if it's your only bike and you plan to ride it in all weathers then drz400 or another bomb proof 4 stroke. KTM 300 or any other high strung competition bike if you plan to look after it, have great patience and know what you're getting. Although I missed having a 2 stroke and the are soo much fun! I was reminded yesterday how after sliding it a few times and leaning over the front wheel to keep it down that they can be a little annoying.. Not exactly something I plan to use for my quiet, relaxing Sunday trips around town Mr. Green

Irn-Bru · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Karma :

There's loads of them, any off road bike you can think of can be supermoto'd so that's a long list.

DRZs are great but they aren't made anymore so are a bit pricey. In the same class there's some air cooled 650cc Hondas, 400cc as well I think. Probably more reliable than the DRZ which isn't as perfect as people make out, but since they're so popular everything that can go wrong is listed on a forum somewhere.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Thief magnet.

I assume you don't have a problem with bikes being stolen recently Wink

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Nope not men must be someone else...

It is a big nagging doubt, why so nickable or is it the ease of being half hinched?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Chavs LOVE the offroad look. Fuck knows why, I used to hate it through the type of nuggets who used to ride them. Now.. I have 2 at my disposal. Laughing

I might actually start making a list later, whether it gets used or not is another thing.

rhys1005 · Crazy Courier Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Karma :

MC · Banned Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Karma :

CCM do some interesting supermoto's, questions over reliability and getting spares tho.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
~~Honda XR-125L '04~~

Clutchy · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I'll work on it after my dump..

Should note, I'm only going to list factory SM... you can SM any enduro bike Laughing

Also.. this appears to take some time. Neutral

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

For road use Pros:
They are slow and low geared.

Cons:
Most won't like sitting at dual carriageway speeds.
Slow and low geared
Lumpy when at lower revs in higher gear etc.

You're looking at a massive range of bikes listed as 'supermotos'; from something like the very heavy and distinctly slow XT660 to the quite similar sounding FS650. The Husaberg probably has over 50% more power than the Yamaha, while the Yamaha has over 50% more weight than the Husaberg.
Of course the Yamaha has considerably longer service intervals and the weight will damp out a load of the vibes.

What's your budget?

Rhys; it does sound like your bike is setup particularly aggressively. I always considered my 300 and others I've ridden to be pretty tame if you wanted them to be. Had you considered just using a higher gear? Smile

Compared to a sports 600, top gear is probably lower than first on the sports bike.

rhys1005 · Crazy Courier Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Karma :

He was telling me all the stuff he's done to make it more 'fun' can't remember if that involved messing with gearing Shocked

to be honest I never got out of 2nd gear so yeh probably should of changed more often Laughing

Saying that I know someone who has commuted on a ktm125 exc for two years and someone else who is planning to buy a crf450 and use it for the same thing. If you can have a test ride on a few different bikes, ask about maintenance costs etc then decide which you think you'd prefer on the road then do it. If I had never ridden a gs650 I would probably have one now and hate myself for it.

Atomic Punk · Scooby Slapper Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Karma :

I have owned:
2 x Husky SM610
1 x CCM 640
1 X MZ Baghira
1 x Aprilia Dorsoduro
1 x Ducati Hypermotard 796

The most reliable was the MZ Suzuki powered lump, acerbis plastics and Grimeca brakes. get rid of the huge heavy exhaust and you're onto a winner, cheap too.
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I may have lost my way but I'm way ahead of schedule.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

MZ has an XT660 engine.

I didn't really rate mine, it was heavy and hit the limiter just as it started to pull properly. It had an aftermarket exhaust and jet kit.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

The 300 should pull well from low down, so yep; just go up a gear or few if it's being skittish.

As I've said elsewhere, my old 350 you could pretty much ride like a XR250 out of the powerband - likely had similar power and delivery.
However, you had the option to zip off in to the distance (when there was grip) by letting the revs rise more.
On 'lanes' I would mostly keep out of the powerband.

Atomic Punk · Scooby Slapper Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

The price of fixing parts, fuck that.

KTM is in the garage at the minute, its overflowing, leaking a little oil and the pump isn't pumping because the cable is shit.

£296 so far. Sad

That is without supermoto... and the reason for no supermoto wheels.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I have the learner legal ones with the most common ones... nothing special, working on the proper ones later.

rhys1005 · Crazy Courier Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Karma :

Definitely start a Supermoto thread I could talk about/ look at pics of them all day and I'm going a little off topic now Embarassed

Paddy you're making me feel a bit better about paying £1150 for mine (still probably got a better deal then me lol) without MOT, TAX and a slight leaking left fork seal. Starts first kick now I've learnt the technique though from cold.. Give it a few weeks and that'll be 10 kicks Wink

queue another £100 for speedo (May go for £10 bicycle jobo) and whatever for sm wheels Rolling Eyes

hope I'm not putting op off Mr. Green

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Paid ~£900 for it. 9 months tax/test, lights, speedo and a fresh engine rebuild.

Needs some leaking carb sorted and some oil pump cable as I'm lucky enough to have the "EGS" model with autolube. Laughing

Dischord · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2005 Karma :

KTM's 690 SMC is the best road-going supermoto you can buy at the moment. It's reliable and fast enough to go anywhere without feeling underpowered, my old one (why the fuck did I sell it) -

https://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9322/jpj.JPG
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2012 KTM EXC 250

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